In southern Dawes County, you’ll find the Box Butte Reservoir State Recreation Area. The lake covers 1,600 acres, making water a defining feature of the area’s attractions. Birdwatchers will find good opportunities there: species spotted include Say’s Phoebe, Ferruginous Hawk, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Indigo Bunting and Wood Thrush. Fishing is another activity at the reservoir. Fish found there include northern pike, channel catfish, walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, yellow perch and rock bass.
Trails Between Pine Ridge and Geological Formations
Founded in 1921, Chadron State Park lies among the striking buttes and canyons of Nebraska’s Pine Ridge. Together, the park and the adjoining Nebraska National Forest offer hikers and cyclists more than 100 miles of trails and old roads. This trail network is on a very different scale from the one-mile interpretive loop at Toadstool Geologic Park. There, the trail leads to the eroded clay and sandstone formations for which the park is known; scientifically valuable fossil deposits are also part of its character.
A longer connection is the Bison Trail, which runs three miles one way between Toadstool Geologic Park and the Hudson-Meng Education and Research Center. The loop and the connecting trail differ both in length and in where they lead. For another way to get around, The Cliffs in Nebraska National Forest offers an extensive trail network for motorized and non-motorized users.
Fort Robinson State Park encompasses more than 22,000 acres of Pine Ridge landscape and offers 60 miles of hiking trails. Jeep tours to nearby buttes and geological formations are offered during the summer months; check the current schedule before visiting. The landscape also offers a glimpse into history: the Cheyenne Breakout took place at the park in 1879. The Fort Robinson History Center and numerous restored or reconstructed exhibit buildings tell the story of the fort.
Museums, History and Performances
The museums also cover a range of subjects. The Museum of the Fur Trade is located at the site of James Bordeaux’s trading post, built in 1837 for the American Fur Company and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Trailside Museum of Natural History is also located in Fort Robinson State Park. The C. F. Coffee Gallery at the Mari Sandoz Heritage Center focuses on the history of cattle ranching on the High Plains. A permanent exhibit at the same Heritage Center tells the story of Mari Sandoz’s life and literary work.
At the Eleanor Barbour Cook Museum, visitors can take in everything from traditional specimens in display cases to a room featuring fluorescent rocks and hands-on activities. Most of the specimens were collected at sites in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions. The Dawes County Historical Museum adds a genealogical and historical research library, as well as a log cabin, a barn, a school and a church. Its collection also includes antique toys and a caboose.
Each season, from May through August, the Post Playhouse presents several rotating musicals in the historic theater building at Fort Robinson State Park. Since the program is seasonal, it’s worth checking the current season’s schedule. The Dr. Lois Veath Planetarium offers, by reservation, presentations featuring a guided talk about the night sky and a film experience. Public Free-Friday shows are open without a reservation and last 30 to 45 minutes. Showtimes and reservation requirements may change, so check them in advance.
Visitor Information
In Chadron, Chadron City Transit provides the general public with demand-response, door-to-door service, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Since schedules can change, check the current times if you plan to use this service. For another look at the region, curated road trips in Northwest Nebraska include the 16-mile Smiley Canyon scenic drive and the 95-mile Pine Buttes & Grasslands adventure. They add an explicitly regional perspective to the many different themes in the area.
Discover more destinations: Chadron, Cass County, Colfax County, Otoe County, Richardson County, Brown County, Scotts Bluff County, Nuckolls County.
For the main travel overview: Nebraska.
